Galesburg, Illinois) – By the end of 2017, the main lobby of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center will look strikingly different as it receives a significant entrance renovation. The project will create a more efficient flow for patients and visitors while creating a more open and healing environment.

“A patient and family friendly space is needed to help make patient and visitor experiences seamless, start to finish,” said Roxanna Crosser, President of OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center. “We want the first impression of entering our organization welcoming and comforting. We definitely recognize that this will be an inconvenience for a few months, but the finished product will be beneficial.”

Beginning May 31, the hospital’s main entrance will be closed. Patients and visitors will be routed to the Emergency Department entrance at the front of the hospital until further notice. Day-to-day operations will not be affected.

The information desk will be temporarily relocated to the Emergency Department hallway. Directional signs will be placed on campus and throughout the hospital to guide patients and visitors to their final destination inside the hospital.

The Emergency Department entrance will remain open throughout the entire project.

The existing canopy and vestibule will be removed. The vestibule will be replaced with a new, larger vestibule with a large airlock to minimize the infiltration of air into the lobby. The vestibule will have glass walls for greater visibility into and out of the space. The new canopy will extend over the drive and drop-off lane. The center area of the canopy will have a glass roof providing natural light into the area under the canopy.

The existing lobby will be completely renovated will all new finishes, new information desk, new pre-registration desk, and waiting areas. The new finishes will extend down the existing corridors to the corridor doors. The existing women’s restroom will be converted to a family restroom and a new women’s restroom will be constructed in an area previously occupied by administration offices.

The projected date for the project to be complete is the end of 2017.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Carrie Bernett, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator, at (309) 344-3161, extension 1102, or email at carrie.a.bernett@osfhealthcare.org.